Apparatus for collecting a liquid sample



June 25, 1957 E. RlGBY 2,797,150

APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING A LIQUID SAMPLE Filed Jan. 24, 1956 FIG. .1. I

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United States Patent 12,797,150 Patented June 25, 1957 fiice 2,797,150APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING A LIQUID SAMPLE Edward Rigby, Scotia, Calif.Application January 24, 1956, Serial No. 560,945 3 Claims. (Cl. 23-259)The present invention relates to an apparatus for collecting a liquidsample in an air free container.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forcollecting a liquid sample in a container in such a way as to have thesample totally uncontaminated by air.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forcollecting a liquid sample in an air free container which has means forintroducing treating solutions to the collected sample without exposingthe collected sample to the air.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forcollecting a liquid sample in an air free container which has means forintroducing treating solutions to the collected sample, and one whichenables the user to shake or swirl the container to mix the treatingsolutions with the collected sample.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description when taken in connectionwith the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the apparatus of the presentinvention shown installed in a bottle, the bottle and the stopper of thebottle being shown in cross-section, and

Figure 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line2--2 of Figure 1.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing in which like numeralsindicate like parts in the two views, the apparatus of the presentinvention comprises an upstanding bottle having an open top 11. Astopper 12 closes the open top 11 of the bottle 10. A first upstandingtube 13 extends through the stopper 12 through a hole provided in thelatter and has its lower end adjacent to and spaced above the bottom ofthe bottle 19. The portion of the tube 13 adjacent the upper end of thelatter is exteriorly of and above the stopper 12.

A first stop cook 14 extends transversely through the exterior portionof the tube 13 inwardly of the upper end of the latter. An auxiliarytube 15 of a cross-sectional area larger than the tube 13 extendsvertically from the upper end of the tube 13. An upstanding pipette 16is loosely received in and supported in the auxiliary tube 15.

A branch tube 17 projects transversely from the portion of the tube 13which is exteriorly of the bottle 10 between the stop cook 14 and thestopper 12. A second stop cock 18 extends vertically through the branchtube 17 intermediate the ends of the latter.

The bottom face of the stopper 12 is concave and a second upstandingtube 19 extends into the stopper 12 through a hole provided therein andhas its lower end adjacent to and spaced above the concave lower end ofthe stopper 12. The upper end of the second tube 19 is exteriorly of andspaced above the stopper 12. A second branch tube 20 projectstransversely from the upper end of the second tube 19 and a third stopcock 21 extends vertically through the second branch tube 20intermediate the ends of the latter.

A third upstanding tube 22 is positioned exteriorly of and in parallelrelation with respect to the bottle 10 and has its lower end below thelower end of the tube 13 and has its upper end dependingly secured tothe free end of the second branch tube 20. Preferably, the bottle 10,the tubes 13, 15, 19, and 22, and the stop cocks 14, 18, and 21 are eachfabricated of heat-resistant glass, the stop cocks 14, 18, and 21 havingground glass matching surfaces which make them airtight and watertightwhen in closed position. A rubber tube 23, shown in dotted lines inFigure 1, is provided and has one end surrounding and secured to theportion of the tube 17 exteriorly of the stop cock 18. The rubber tube23 should be of a length more than sufficient to extend to a source ofliquid to be sampled.

The apparatus of the present invention may be used to collect a liquidsample in the following manner:

The free end of the rubber tube 23 is connected to a source of liquid tobe sampled, such as the cooling coil of a liquid cooler orliquid-treating device. Each of the stop cocks 14, 18, and 21 is thenopened and the liquid is permitted to flow into the tube 13 and thenceinto the bottle 10 expelling the air therefrom through the tube 19, thetube 20, and through the tube 22 to a place of discharge or waste. Theliquid as it fills the bottle 10 will drive all of the air out ofthebottle 11) and any air clinging to the underside of the stopper 12 canbe removed therefrom by shaking the bottle 10. If the uuderface or endof the stopper 12 is first thoroughly moistened before insertion in theneck of the bottle, no air will be found to cling to the underface ofthe stopper 12. The liquid is permitted to flow freely through thebottle 10 until all of the air is driven therefrom and then the stopcock 21 is closed so that the liquid rises in the tube 13 through thestop cock 14 into the auxiliary tube 15 and overflows from the latter.The stop cock 18 is thenclosed, shutting off the flow of liquid from thesource, and the stop. cook 14 is also closed to isolate the liquidwithin the bottle 10 7' and within the tube 13 in a totally airfreecondition. j Fixing solutions and treating solutions may now beintroduced by means of the graduated pipette 16, the pipette beinginserted into the auxiliary tube 15 displacing some of the liquidtherefrom. The lower end of the pipette 16 should have a close fit withthe upper end of the tube 13 above the stop cook 14 so that upon openingof the stop cock 14 and the stop cock 21 the treating liquid within thepipette 16 will flow into the tube 13 and thence into the bottle 10.When the treating liquid within the pipette 16 has been introduced intothe tube 13 the stop cocks 14 and 21 are again closed and the bottle 10may be swirled or shaken to mix the treating liquid with the liquidWithin the bottle it). The extra length of the rubber tube 23 permitsthis shaking or swirling of the bottle without disconnecting the rubbertube 23 from the tube 17. Should more liquid be required or should moreliquid be needed so that it extends in the auxiliary tube 15 to a pointsnfficiently above the lower end of the pipette 16 to insure that thelower end of the pipette 16 has an air free connection with the tube 13,the stop cocks 14 and 18 are again opened to permit liquid to flowupwardly into the auxiliary tube 15. To replenish the liquid within thebottle 10 it is only necessary to open the stop cocks 18 and 21.

It will be seen therefore that the apparatus of the present inventionenables the user thereof to obtain a sample of liquid and to maintainthe sample of liquid in a totally uncontaminated condition.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for the collection of a liquid sample and retaining itagainst contamination comprising an upstanding bottle having an opentop, a stopper closing the open top' of said bottle, a first upstandingtube extending through said stopper and having the lower end adjacent toand spaced above the bottom of said bottle and having the portion ofsaid tube adjacent. the ,upper end exteriorly of and. above saidstopper, a: first stop .cock. extending transversely through saidexterior portion ofv said tube inwardly of the upper end .of said tube,a branch tube projecting transversely from said exterior portion of-saidtube between said stop cock and said stopper, a second stop cockextending vertically through said branchtube intermediate its ends, asecondupstanding tube extending into said stopper and having the lowerend adjacent to and spaced'labove the lower end of said stopper and.having the upper end exteriorly of and spaced above said stopper,

a second branch tube projecting transversely from' the upper endof saidsecond tube, a third stop cock extending vertically through said secondbranch tube intermediate its ends, and a third upstanding tubepositioned exteriorly of and in parallel relation with respect to saidbottle and having the lower end below the lower end of said first tubeand having the upper end dependingly secured to the free end of saidsecond branch tube.

' 2. Apparatus for the collection of a liquid sample and retaining itagainst contamination comprising an upstanding bottle having an opentop, a stopper closing the open top of said bottle, a first upstandingtube extending through said stopper and having the lower end adjacent toand spaced above the bottom of said bottle and having the portion ofsaid tube adjacent the upper end exteriorly of and above said stopper, afirst stop cock extending transversely through said exterior portion ofsaid tube inwardly of the upper end of said tube, an auxiliary tubeextending vertically from the upper end of said tube, said auxiliarytube being of a cross-sectional area larger than said tube, a branchtube projecting transversely from said exterior portion of said tubebetween said stop cock and said stopper, a second stop cock extendingvertically through said branch tube intermediate its ends, a secondupstanding tube extending into said stopper and having the lower endadjacent to and spaced above the lower end of said stopper and havingthe upper end exteriorly of and spaced above said stopper, a secondbranch tube projecting transversely from the upper end of said secondtube, a third stop cock extending vertically through said second branchtube intermediate its ends, and a third upstanding tube positionedexteriorly of and in parallel relation with respect to said bottle andhaving the lower end below the lower end of said first tube and havingthe upper end dependingly secured to the free end of said second branchtube.

3. Apparatus for the collection of a liquid sample and retaining itagainst contamination comprising an upstanding bottle having an opentop, a stopper closing the open top of said bottle, a first upstandingtube extending through said stopper and having the lower end adjacent toand spaced above the bottom of said bottle and having the portion ofsaid tube adjacent the upper end exteriorly of and above said stopper, afirst stop cock extending transversely through said exterior portion ofsaid tube inwardly of the upper end of said tube, an auxiliary tubeextending vertically from the upper end' of said tube, said auxiliarytube being of a cross-sectional area larger than said tube, a branchtube projecting transversely from said exterior portion of said tubebetween said stop cock and said stopper, .a second stop cock extendingvertically through said branch tube intermediate its ends, a secondupstanding tube extending into said stopper and having the lower endadjacent to and spaced above the lower end of said stopper and havingthe upper end exteriorly of and spaced above said stopper, asecond'branch tube projecting transversely from the upper end of saidsecond tube, a third stop cock extending vertically through said'secondbranch tube intermediate its ends, a third upstanding tube positionedexteriorly of and in parallel relation with respect to said bottle andhaving the lower end below the lower end of said first tube and havingthe upper end dependingly secured to the free end of said second branchtube, and an upstanding pipette loosely received in and supported insaid auxiliary tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,294,655 Einstein Sept. 1, 1942 2,533,726 Floyd Dec. 12, 1950 2,539,082Hustinx Jan. 23, 1951

1.APPARATUS FOR THE COLLECTION OF A LIQUID SAMPLE AND RETAINING ITAGAINST CONTAMINATION COMPRISING AN UPSTANDING BOTTLE HAVING AN OPENTOP, A STOPPER CLOSING THE OPEN TOP OF SAID BOTTLE, A FIRST UPSTANDINGTUBE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID STOPPER AND HAVING THE LOWER END ADJACENT TOAND SPACED ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF SAID BOTTLE AND HAVING THE PORTION OFSAID TUBE ADJACENT THE UPPER END EXTERIORLY OF AND ABOVE SAID STOPPER, AFIRST STOP COCK EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID EXTERIOR PORTION OFSAID TUBE INWARDLY OF THE UPPER END OF SAID TUBE, A BRANCH TUBEPROJECTING TRANSVERSELY FROM SAID EXTERIOR PORTION OF SAID TUBE BETWEENSAID STOP COCK AND SAID STOPPER, A SECOND STOP COCK EXTENDING VERTICALLYTHROUGH SAID BRANCH TUBE INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS, A SECOND UPSTANDING TUBEEXTENDING INTO SAID STOPPER AND HAVING THE LOWER END ADJACENT TO ANDSPACED ABOVE THE LOWER END OF SAID STOPPER AND HAVING THE UPPER ENDEXTERIORLY OF AND SPACED ABOVE SAID STOPPER A SECOND BRANCH TUBEPROJECTING TRANSVERSELY FRON THE UPPER END OF SAID SECOND TUBE, A THIRDSTOP COCK EXTENDING VERTICALLY THROUGH SAID SECOND BRANCH TUBEINTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS, AND THIRD UPSTANDING TUBE POSITIONED EXTERIORLYOF AND IN PARALLEL RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID BOTTLE AND HAVING THELOWER END BELOW THE LOWER END OF SAID FIRST TUBE AND HAVING THE UPPEREND DEPENDINGLY SECURED TO THE FREE END OF SAID SECOND BRANCH TUBE.